Sumlin on NCAA Football 14, nonconference schedule and schemin’ Saban

COLLEGE STATION – Coach Kevin Sumlin has never adopted the mantra that Texas A&M simply “sells itself” – and for that Aggies fans everywhere are grateful. The latest example is his involvement with EA Sports, in helping promote NCAA Football 14.

You know – the video game all the kids play. And I mean all the kids – from the guys who already are playing for Sumlin to the ones he’s recruiting. By the way, A&M’s 2014 class with a dozen verbal commitments currently ranks No. 1 on 247Sports.com.

“It’s not just the incoming student-athletes, it’s the current players, too,” Sumlin said of EA’s NCAA Football. “Our guys are playing it all of the time. When we go on road trips we’ve got guys who bring their games with them in one form or another – on the planes, on the buses, in the hotels … they’re playing all of the time.”

More on that in a bit. In a visit with Sumlin this week arranged through EA Sports, I asked him about the plans by A&M president R. Bowen Loftin and athletic director Eric Hyman to upgrade the Aggies’ nonconference schedule in coming years.

A&M plays host to Rice, Sam Houston State, SMU and UTEP this season, one in which the Aggies are expected to contend for a national title in only Sumlin’s second season and behind Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

“It’s easy for people to (knock) our schedule,” Sumlin said. “But in our situation, we scrambled to get anybody to play us, because we had to come up with a schedule in less than 12 months. We’re basically in the same boat right now. Most schedules are done way in advance, and when you change leagues you’re at the mercy of two things: The league schedule, and who you can find within 24 months.

“Our schedule is going to change as time goes on. We had to scramble to find anybody to play us in particular these first two years – and it’s not just finding somebody to play, but their availability to play on specific dates. It gets really limited.”

I also asked Sumlin about Alabama coach Nick Saban already discussing the best ways to slow Manziel, in preparation for the Alabama-A&M showdown on Sept. 14 at Kyle Field.

“He’s not the only one,” Sumlin responded of Saban’s early scheming.

Back to EA, as Sumlin discussed the “realism” behind the 14 version of NCAA football, including the scouting and recruiting process involved.

“There are some guys who are lower rated players who you think can fit your system,” he said. “It’s really realistic, because recruiting services can make mistakes. Whatever your system is, and your preference in players, you’re able to recruit those guys and fit them in your system.”

For more on what Sumlin was discussing concerning EA Sports, with the latest version of NCAA Football out on July 9, click here.